One In A Million - Aaliyah

...are quite boring but this one is just brilliant. Timbaland’s rapping in the background is also really good. This version is also more of a dance song as well as I can imagine people getting their groove on to this one. Overall this song has got it going on, not a song you get tired of, as I still love it as much as I did when it was released. Both versions worth listening to.

ONE IN A MILLION 4:30

This song is ...
...about how someone’s love is one in a million as they are just so special. It really has beautiful lyrics which I think are definitely worth listening out for. It has really great beats on the song to, which definitely compliment Aaliyah’s sexy voice. That’s a major advantage to the song, the way the heavy bass line meshes really well with her voice, quite contrasting but work very well together. The video is really slow and soft ... more

Being a huge Aaliyah fan I’ve written about her two albums Age aint nothing but a number and her last self titled album and I’ve written about her in general. But I haven’t written about my favourite album of all time. Which happens to be her second album ‘One in a million’

Miss Aaliyah Haughton released her debut album ‘Age aint nothing but a number’ way back in 1994. She proved she had the talent at 14 and she made a big impact with her debut single ‘Back and forth’ Two years later she followed it up with the absolutely superb ‘One in a million’.

Even though Aaliyah was only sweet sixteen her voice had matured since her debut and people took note of that. Even looking at her pictures you would never have guessed she was only 16!

When the album was released I thought she was the coolest. I thought her street yet feminine style was just so cool and you can bet I used to try and do the same side parting that she used to do in her hair! Oh the shame!

She worked with R. Kelly on her first album but decided it was time for a change and teamed up with hip-hop producer Timbaland and the totally wicked Missy Elliot. I’m really glad she worked with Timbaland as the two of them work really well together. They both create and unique sound together. Also Missy Elliot adds a brilliant touch to the album too. This album definitely changed the face of R’n’B.

The album consists of 17 tracks including the intro and outro. On the cover it shows Aaliyah with her trademark Sunglasses. She’s leaning against a wall where it says ‘One in a million’. Inside the cover there is all the usual information about the tracks on the album and has some pictures of Aaliyah in there.

~~*THE TRACKS*~~

BEATS 4 DA STREETS (INTRO) 2:10

When I first heard this intro I thought this is so weird! It has quite a spooky feel but when it gets into it, it sounds really cool. It starts out with Missy ‘Misdemeanour’ Elliot calling out for Aaliyah, telling her to wake up and introducing the album. Missy raps for a bit on the intro before Aaliyah starts singing ‘Beats 4 da streets’. Quite an odd start to a brilliant album but there you go.

HOT LIKE FIRE 4:36

This song is just such a classic for me. The original version features Missy Elliot and is a really good track. The beats are really cool and I really love the intro to this song. I like the sound of the song as it kind of has an Erykah Badu sound to it. I think Aaliyah’s voice really compliments the music. This song is quite different to all the other songs on the album and that’s what I like about it. It is quite slow but not too slow. I think it is just right. It has a cool vibe about it that I cant explain I just think it is really different to all the other songs, which makes it, stand out. It’s a different song, which makes you want to chill out really. The instrumental version of this song is also really good and worth listening to as it is a really good version of the song. The original version is on the album but I preferred the Timbaland remix which was more hip-hop with better beats and a better sound overall. The Timbaland groove remix was released as a single. I think the album version was much slower and more soul whilst the remix was more hip-hop. I absolutely adore the Timbaland remix because it is just so good. It has brilliant beats and the whole vibe of the song is just so hip-hop. I think Aaliyah sounds great on both tracks, as they are both very different. The video to this song is really good as well. There are quite a few familiar faces in the video such as Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliot and Timbaland. The whole video has this ‘red’ vibe going on which suits the ‘hot like fire’ thing then. The reason I love the remix so much because it is really different to the original version but still worthy of a single release. Most remixes are quite boring but this one is just brilliant. Timbaland’s rapping in the background is also really good. This version is also more of a dance song as well as I can imagine people getting their groove on to this one. Overall this song has got it going on, not a song you get tired of, as I still love it as much as I did when it was released. Both versions worth listening to.

ONE IN A MILLION 4:30

This song is an absolutely beautiful ballad with a hip-hop edge. It starts off quite slowly with Aaliyah singing softly. It is definitely a track to chill out to. It is slow and very sultry and that’s what I adore about it. I think this track was Aaliyah’s favourite. This song is really touching to be honest. It talks about how someone’s love is one in a million as they are just so special. It really has beautiful lyrics which I think are definitely worth listening out for. It has really great beats on the song to, which definitely compliment Aaliyah’s sexy voice. That’s a major advantage to the song, the way the heavy bass line meshes really well with her voice, quite contrasting but work very well together. The video is really slow and soft just like the song itself. It is definitely a sexy video, which just suits the whole persona of the song. The video also features Missy, Timbaland and Ginuwine. This song really stands out on the album, as it is just so easy to listen to, it’s just soft and really easy going. A song anyone can love to be honest. A very addictive song, I know a lot of people who think this is Aaliyah’s best song ever, I would have to agree, as it is just such a great song with beautiful lyrics. I don’t think anyone else could have worked this song as well as she did, this was her song and a brilliant one at that. One thing that I love about it is that it’s got great beats but this ballad is kept simple which really emphasises Aaliyah’s voice. This song is just so special and a brilliant title track! Overall this song is just so touching, I think it really shows Aaliyah’s vocal talent. It really proves she could sing brilliantly.

GIRL LIKE YOU 4:22

I love the intro to this song, it’s got quite a bit of rapping on it but that really suits the song on a whole. It takes quite a while for Aaliyah to start singing on this track but it still sounds brilliant, as the rapping is really good. The rapping is basically a guy telling (or rapping) Aaliyah that he wants a girl like her, which equals a girl like you. This song doesn’t really stand out like a few others but I have to say this track does grow on you slowly as that’s what the case was with me. I think the beats are really good on this song. When it first starts you probably think it’s a slow track but it is quite fast and up beat and that’s what I like about it. I can imagine myself dancing to this song, as it really is a fun song, its not really that repetitive either. I think the rapping goes very well with Aaliyah’s sweet singing, a good contrast. Aaliyah’s sounds quite different on this track, her voice is bit higher than on the other tracks but this is quite a good effect for the song and goes well with the deep voiced rapping. The chorus is also quite a catchy part of the song. Like most of the hip hop songs on the album this song has got quite a heavy bass line but that’s the formula for the song which works really well with the music. This song is one of those that does grow on you after a while, it isn’t one of those tracks you instantly here and want to play over and over but it does grow on you. It’s definitely a very catchy song with a great bass line. Overall a really cool track worth listening to which is different to a lot of other tracks on the album.

IF YOUR GIRL ONLY KNEW 4:52

This song has absolutely brilliant beats. It really is such an addictive song with a really good meaning to it. This song is just pure R’n’B and probably one of my favourite Aaliyah songs. I bought this song when it was released in 96, I loved it then and I love it now. This song does not get repetitive at all. It isn’t outdated at all and has a fresh sound to it. This song isn’t fast but quite slow but with heavy beats backing up Aaliyah’s soft voice. This isn’t one of those ballads but its one of those hip hop songs with Timbaland. This song isn’t really dancing material but whenever I hear it I just have to get jiggy with it! I just start dancing because it really is one of those songs that makes me wants to get up and dance! Seriously this is just a classic song for me, I just love it! When I first heard it I thought, wow what a cool track, it’s so different. And the people I’ve recommended this song to say exactly the same, they wouldn’t even realise it was released way back in 96! The video to this song is also cool to watch. It really is a sultry video, which really suits the song! Aaliyah rides a motorbike in this video and her outfits are also very cool! The meaning behind the song is basically about a guy hitting on Aaliyah who already has a girl. Hence Aaliyah singing ‘if your girl only knew that you was trying to get with me, what would she do?’ In the background you can hear Timbaland rapping which adds the hip-hop element to the song. I think this is just pure Aaliyah. If I were to recommend you listen to an Aaliyah song I think you should listen to this, as it is just such a classic. I don’t think I could ever get bored of this song. A loveable song, which is just excellent. Even after six years this song still seems so original and fresh. I haven’t heard any other songs like this and that’s what so original about it. I think everyone’s heard it, they just can’t remember it! For the best effect, blast this song to full volume so you can here all the beats.

CHOOSEY LOVER 7:07

Now this is a slow jam! It is such a nice song to listen to. It really is such a romantic song and I think Aaliyah’s voice sounds beautiful on this song because it’s so slow. Really shows just how talented she was. The song starts out really softly and the slow beats just compliment the lovely slow music. I also love the lyrics to this song as they are really nice and are worth listening to. This song is basically about a lover that chose Aaliyah, and the song is basically about how Aaliyah will make him happy. It is a romantic song and I think the background music is just lovely. This slow jam is one to relax to, you know with someone romantic. The tune and music sounds familiar as I’m sure ive heard it on other slow jams but Aaliyah makes this song hers. This song is just so soft and slow, it has a really nice meaning behind it too. Mid-way during the song begins to get fast and has more of a hip-hop feel to it. I think this sounds so good as it is quite a change to the first half of the song. The change really suits the song and gives it a really hip-hop edge. The second half is completely different to the first half and that’s what makes this song more enjoyable, its got two sides to it. even toward the end of the song Liyah’s voice changes to a more sexy tone unlike the first half when it was more sweet and romantic. This song is definitely a fusion of soul and R’n’B. I think one of most memorable moments in the song is the guitar part in the middle of the song. This gives the song a really romantic vibe. Overall this is just lovely, sweet song with great beats but still very romantic but with another half that is just totally different with more of a heavy beat and more hip hop.

GOT TO GIVE IT UP 4:41

This song in my opinion has a bit of a disco feel to it. It really is one of those party songs. It has a really wicked tune to it and I love the heavy beats because it really gives a really cool, party feel to this song. You can just totally imagine this song playing in a club! The song features Slick Rick who does some rapping on the song. He raps in the intro of the song before Aaliyah starts to sing and I have to say it sounds really good the way the song starts. The background music to this song is really cool and it sounds quite familiar but I’m not really sure where I heard it before. This song is just a totally cool party song, which stands out on the album because it sounds quite different to all the other tracks. The backing music sounds really different so this song has a bit more of an edge compared to the other songs. I think Aaliyah sounds so good on this track as she has that party tone in her voice, and it’s more jokey than usual. In the background whilst Aaliyah sings you can here slick Rick talking and I think this gives the song a really party vibe as its happening there and then in a club. I think the first time I heard this track I loved it because it was really different to anything else she had done before and instantly I became a fan of this song! It seriously is completely different to all other tracks on the album so if you like songs with a disco/party edge to them this song is for you. Overall a decent track which will get you in the mood to party!

4-PAGE LETTER 4:52

This song starts off really slowly and very low that you can’t hear it. You can just about here Aaliyah saying ‘Turn my music up’. After that the song slowly becomes louder and you can hear Aaliyah saying ‘up some more’. At first when I heard it I thought my speakers were messed up or something but that’s just how this song goes. This song is slow and soft, quite similar to one in a million but different in many ways. This song is just so nice to listen to. It’s got a lovely sound to it, which I adore. It’s got a very airy vibe to it, which really makes the song soothing and relaxing. I think it is just so smooth, sexy and sultry. Definitely a track to listen to when you want to relax and just chill out. Whenever I listen to this song I just feel like chilling out and singing along to the lovely lyrics. I love the fact that this song has a really nice tune to it and isn’t just slow and boring. It’s a really interesting song and makes you want to listen to the lyrics. Whenever I listen to this song I lose myself because it is just so nice to listen to. This really is such a mellow song, I could simply play this song over and over again that’s how much I adore it. This is probably one of my favourite Liyah ballads because it isn’t your average sad and boring ballad but has the Timbaland touch to it. The song is basically about Aaliyah sending a 4-page letter to her lover, which is enclosed with a kiss. It really is such a sweet song that is worth listening to. The lyrics really are worth listening to, as they are really romantic and special. I reckon this along with One in a million is one of her best tracks ever. Her voice sounds simply brilliant on this track. And personally I don’t think anyone but Liyah could work this song.

EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT 4:49

At first I didn’t really like this song to be honest. I just thought it was too average but like most songs it grew on me. I really started to love it as it quite different and I just loved the tune and beats of the song. This track is produced by infamous Rodney Jerkins who is responsible for many cool R’n’B tracks. This song is quite faster than a lot of the songs on the album and has quite an upbeat vibe to it. I find that this song is really catchy and fun to listen to. I personally feel like this is one of those songs that isn’t taken too seriously but is one of those laid back easy going tracks. I think it has a really cool and different sound. Also the way Aaliyah starts to sing on the song is perfect as she starts to sing at the right time. Aaliyah’s sexy vocals really make this song worth listening to as she just sounds brilliant on this track. This song is worth listening to it as I found it is a bit of a grower and you will probably end up loving this song. I think Aaliyah sounds really good on this song, her voice does sound a bit different though compared to her other songs. A disadvantage to this song is that it can get quite repetitive but if you haven’t listened to it for ages you will probably end up loving it. I guess if you listen to it you might find that the chorus is repeated a bit too much. at first the repetition of the chorus sounds really good but slowly it starts to get a bit too repetitive. I hadn’t heard this song for a while when I listened to it again and it just reminded me loads of stuff that happened in my life when it was released so that’s what I love this song quite a bit! Overall a cool song to chill out to as it has a really upbeat vibe about it.

GIVING YOU MORE 4:26

This song starts off with a heavy bass line. I think this start to the song is quite original. Then Aaliyah starts singing softly and I think it goes really well together. The contrast of her sweet voice and the heavy bass line meshes really well. This song isn’t really a slow song or a fast song either; I guess you could say it’s in between. I think Aaliyah sounds good on this track like the others. It’s quite a catchy tune I think. It isn’t as good as some other tracks on the album but it is still good in its own way. If it were on I would still listen to it, as it is still a decent track. I really like the beats on this track as they sound really good throughout the song, not a repetitive song though. I think the whole tune of the song is quite simple and I think the simplicity of the track gives it more of a relaxing vibe, and that’s what I like about it. The melody sounds quite familiar and its as if I have heard the tune somewhere before. The chorus to this song is probably the catchiest part of the song. This song wasn’t really a favourite of mine and I wasn’t too fond of it to begin with but it does really grow on you as it has that cool edgy vibe to it. This song is basically about having strong feelings for someone that you want to give them more, all that they want, all that they need. This song does have quite romantic lyrics. Overall I think the simplicity of this song makes it very enjoyable to listen to. Its sweet melody and heavy bass line mesh really well and compliment Aaliyah’s voice. Definitely another one of those tracks you can just chill to.

I GOTCHA’ BACK 2:53

I really love the way this song starts out. It just has this really sexy vibe about it. A song that will want to make you dance. Aaliyah’s voice sounds really different on this track but that is not a bad thing. She sounds brilliant. This song stands out on the album for me because I feel it sounds totally different to the other tracks. It has a really R’n’B vibe about it and the way Aaliyah sings on it is really good as the lyrics need to be sang a certain way on this track. I also love the way Aaliyah says ‘I gotcha’ back’ in the background, which just sounds so sultry and sexy. The beats on this track are excellent especially in the intro of this song. Aaliyah’s voice does not clash with the beats but I think they contrast really well. I like the way the chorus is sung on this track, it isn’t catchy like some other tracks but still has a good vibe about it. The main tune of the song is really nice as well and I think the bass line is just right for it. this song is low tempo with quite a heavy beats which makes it seem a lot faster than it actually its. The lyrics aren’t brilliant on this track but the meaning is quite good. Basically about how Aaliyah can keep a man and leaving all the other woman wondering how she does it. Also how she will always have ‘his’ back when he needs her or just wants to chill. Also this song makes me think Destiny’s child may have got a lot of their ‘survivor’ inspiration from this song. Overall I think this is a cool track worth listening to. It isn’t too slow and isn’t to fast. It is quite a sexy track with a really different sound to it.

NEVER GIVIN’ UP 5:11

This track starts off quite slowly and softly. I like the way it starts because it is really slow and has a really romantic vibe about it. It is a slow jam for definite. It is a really nice song but I feel it doesn’t really stand out on the album. It is a really soft song with Aaliyah singing really quietly and softly which I think adds a really nice touch to the song. It really suits the music. The chorus of the song is really nice also, and I think the music and the beats on this song are really nice. The melody of this song is just so beautiful, this song really is one of those tracks to make you feel totally emotional. This song features Tavarius and I have absolutely no idea who that is! But he does add a really nice to the song, as it sounds more romantic that both a guy and gal are singing the song. The meaning behind this song is really lovely. It’s basically about a lover you can’t stop thinking about, so your never givin’ up loving them. The lyrics are just lovely. Really worth listening to. Really sweet song! Overall this is a really nice track but there are a few more that I prefer, this track doesn’t really stand out.

HEARTBROKEN 4:19

This song is quite a nice track to listen to. It’s got a really nice vibe about it, which you can just relax to. The song is basically about a lover who’s gone and left you, and Aaliyah is basically asking why she’s been left heartbroken. The lyrics are really nice and definitely worth listening to as they are just so sweet. But to be honest when I first heard this track I thought it was one of those romantic, relaxing songs but when you listen to the lyrics you realise its actually one of those sad, heartbroken songs. Back then I though why isn’t the music slower so it can suit the lyrics but now I think they go together really well as they are different but definitely do not clash. I think that is the style of the song and I think it sounds really good. I think Aaliyah’s voice sounds really nice on this song as she sings some really nice words and quite a bit of ‘la la la-ing’ which just sounds really nice. Overall this track is a really nice mid tempo song which I think probably grows on you if you here quite a few times.

NEVER COMIN’ BACK 4:06

I love the way this song starts off. It starts out with Aaliyah talking to the crowd and I think this is a brilliant start to a brilliant song. It’s quite a slow song but the beats make it sound a lot faster than it actually is. The song is basically about what its like to be mistreated by a partner. About giving all the things they want and being treated bad, but love has you blind. Now according to Aaliyah this song is dedicated to all the ladies who have had their heartbroken! Go girl! This song has a really live vibe about it because Aaliyah talks to the crowd whilst the song is playing. I think this sounds really good and gives the song more of a personal touch. Different to a lot of the songs on this album. This song is quite simple and is just about Aaliyah doing her thing and doing what she does best and that’s kickin it live. The beats on the song are good and compliment Aaliyah’s singing. Overall this is quite a simple song, which is enjoyable to listen to because it’s so easy going. Definitely a song to simply chill to.

LADIES IN DA HOUSE 4:20

This song is just such a wicked track on the album. It has a really easygoing vibe to it and the way it starts off is just really good. I love the intro music as well. Timbaland features on this track and gives it a very cool vibe. I think the repetition of some of the words gives this song a really cool, slow edge, which I love. The chorus is repeated a lot but I think it sounds really good. Aaliyah sings one line and Timbaland sings another and I think this sounds really good and goes together really well. I think the beats on this track are really good, and different. They give the song a really cool feel and Aaliyah’s voice works really well on the track too. I think the beats on this song really stand out because they are really hp-hop-ish and make the song really cool. I think the slow beats give the song the rhythm and help the song flow easily. I think this song is so enjoyable to listen to because its not a serious song and quite easy going and a lot of fun to listen to. When Missy Elliot starts to rap in the middle of the song it sounds really good. If gives the song more of a hip-hop feel and goes really well with the beats. I think Missy and Timbaland’s rapping voices go really well with Aaliyah’s Angelic voice. Overall a cool hip-hop song worth listening to if you just want to sit back and chill out.

ONE I GAVE MY HEART TO 4:30

This is a slow jam, which definitely shows off Aaliyah vocal talent. It is really soft and very slow. There isn’t much background music and mainly focuses on Aaliyah singing. Aaliyah sounds brilliant on this track as it is slower and is just about her and her singing. She has to sing quite lightly as the song isn’t loud at all and I think she sounds absolutely superb. I think it really is a good track, which just shows what a talented singer she was. The beats are slow but quite heavy and they give the slow feel of the song a faster pace. The lyrics of this song are just really lovely. This song is about when you give your heart to someone special, and they end up breaking it and make you feel sad, it is a sad song but very powerful at the same time. This song is really special to me and I love listening to it as it brings back loads of memories for me. I love to reminisce to this song, as it is just so special. The whole song is just beautiful and the lyrics are so worth listening out for. Overall this is just beautiful music and one of the most special songs on the album.

CAME TO GIVE LOVE (OUTRO) 1:40

The outro to this album is really good. The outro starts with some guy rapping and telling Aaliyah that she can kick it and the whole world is screaming for her. Aaliyah then quite quietly begins to sing and basically giving her thankyous. One of the nicest lines is probably ‘I came to give my love to the fans across the world reach out to you Touch the hearts of boys and girls’ I think this is a really nice line and Aaliyah sings it well. A very simple yet nice outro to a wonderful album.

~~*ADVANTAGES*~~

The advantages for this album are that there is so much variety on this album. There are tracks for pure R’n’B, hip-hop lovers and even tracks for people who love soft, ballads. That’s what I really about this album, you can play it whether you want chill, reminisce, relax or party.

The songs that stood out for me were one in a million, if you girl only knew, 4 page letter, one I gave my heart to, hot like fire, girl like you and ladies in da house. To me these were the most memorable tracks on the album. The songs I will simply never tire of are One in a million, if your girl only knew and 4 page letter.

Also and advantage to this album is that Timbaland produced it. I think he is just so talented and him and Aaliyah made a great team.

~~*DISADVANTAGES*~~

I am really struggling to find even one disadvantage for this album but I think I’ll have to say that I was surprised the Timbaland remix of hot like fire was not on this album as it was much more catchier than the original. I really can’t find anything bad to say about this album!

~~*OVERALL*~~

This album is simply a classic for me as I loved Aaliyah’s style and her music was just superb. I think there are loads of tracks on this album that will stand out and catch people’s attention, as there are loads of class songs on here. That’s what I really love about this album is that there is a whole variety of different tracks to listen to. There are so many songs here that you can love. On most albums I usually hate some of the tracks but I enjoy every song on this album as they are all different but brilliant in there own way. There are so many songs on this album that I just adore because there really are brilliant tracks. This album really is different and enjoyable to listen to. My CD got so knackered I had to buy a new one! Seriously that’s how much I played it. It really is a good album showing some of Aaliyah’s best work. Released in 1996 maybe, but not repetitive and outdated at all. Give this album a listen if you want to here some beautiful ballads or some class hip-hop Timbaland-esque tracks. That’s what I adore about this album, it has some lyrically beautiful tracks but also has some more hip-hop songs that aren’t too serious. Aaliyah’s style was continuing to grow and change as it went on. She was still working with her two buddies Missy and Timbaland and I’m sure they would have made loads more beautiful music. This album is very different to her last, which was more alternative and soul. Whenever I hear this album I always forget the fact that there will be no more music from this talented lady. I guess you could say it hit me that my favourite singer in the world won’t be making any more music. I grew up with her music and its really upsetting when I think about it. I still cannot believe this talented angel is gone, but her music should still be recognised. This album will always be hot like fire baby.

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